Acts 21:37-22:21
New American Standard Bible
37 As Paul was about to be brought into (A)the barracks, he *said to the commander, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38 Then you are not (B)the Egyptian who some [a]time ago stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out (C)into the wilderness?” 39 But Paul said, “(D)I am a Jew of Tarsus in (E)Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.” 40 When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on (F)the stairs, (G)motioned to the people with his hand; and when there [b]was a great silence, he spoke to them in the [c](H)Hebrew dialect, saying,
Paul’s Defense before the Jews
22 “(I)[d]Brothers and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.”
2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the [e](J)Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet; and he *said,
3 “(K)I am (L)a Jew, born in (M)Tarsus of (N)Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated [f]under (O)Gamaliel, [g](P)strictly according to the Law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as (Q)you all are today. 4 (R)I persecuted this (S)Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons, 5 as also (T)the high priest and all (U)the Council of the elders [h]can testify. From them I also (V)received letters to (W)the brothers, and started off for (X)Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem [i]as prisoners to be punished.
6 “(Y)But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus at about noon, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, 7 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am (Z)Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 And those who were with me (AA)saw the light, but (AB)did not [j]understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, ‘(AC)What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything that has been appointed for you to do.’ 11 But since I (AD)could not see because of the [k]brightness of that light, I came into Damascus being led by the hand by those who were with me.
12 “Now a certain (AE)Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law and (AF)well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing nearby he said to me, ‘(AG)Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And [l](AH)at that very moment I looked up at him. 14 And he said, ‘(AI)The God of our fathers has (AJ)appointed you to know His will and to (AK)see the (AL)Righteous One and to hear a [m]message from His mouth. 15 For you will be (AM)a witness for Him to all people of (AN)what you have seen and heard. 16 Now why do you delay? (AO)Get up and be baptized, and (AP)wash away your sins by (AQ)calling on His name.’
17 “It happened when I (AR)returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I (AS)fell into a trance, 18 and I saw Him saying to me, ‘(AT)Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another (AU)I used to imprison and (AV)beat those who believed in You. 20 And (AW)when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing nearby and approving, and watching over the cloaks of those who were killing him.’ 21 And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away (AX)to the Gentiles.’”
Footnotes
- Acts 21:38 Lit days
- Acts 21:40 Lit occurred
- Acts 21:40 I.e., Jewish Aramaic
- Acts 22:1 Lit Men, brothers
- Acts 22:2 I.e., Jewish Aramaic
- Acts 22:3 Lit at the feet of
- Acts 22:3 Lit according to the strictness of the ancestral law
- Acts 22:5 Lit testifies for me
- Acts 22:5 Lit having been bound
- Acts 22:9 Or hear (with comprehension)
- Acts 22:11 Lit glory
- Acts 22:13 Or instantly; lit at the very hour
- Acts 22:14 Lit voice
Acts 21:37-22:21
New King James Version
Addressing the Jerusalem Mob(A)
37 Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?”
He replied, “Can you speak Greek? 38 (B)Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?”
39 But Paul said, (C)“I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no [a]mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.”
40 So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and (D)motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the (E)Hebrew language, saying,
Paul’s Defense at Jerusalem
22 “Brethren(F) and fathers, hear my defense before you now.” 2 And when they heard that he spoke to them in the (G)Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent.
Then he said: 3 (H)“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city (I)at the feet of (J)Gamaliel, taught (K)according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and (L)was zealous toward God (M)as you all are today. 4 (N)I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, 5 as also the high priest bears me witness, and (O)all the council of the elders, (P)from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus (Q)to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 “Now (R)it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ 8 So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’
9 “And (S)those who were with me indeed saw the light [b]and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. 10 So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’ 11 And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.
12 “Then (T)a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, (U)having a good testimony with all the (V)Jews who dwelt there, 13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. 14 Then he said, (W)‘The God of our fathers (X)has chosen you that you should (Y)know His will, and (Z)see the Just One, (AA)and hear the voice of His mouth. 15 (AB)For you will be His witness to all men of (AC)what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, (AD)and wash away your sins, (AE)calling on the name of the Lord.’
17 “Now (AF)it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance 18 and (AG)saw Him saying to me, (AH)‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ 19 So I said, ‘Lord, (AI)they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and (AJ)beat those who believe on You. 20 (AK)And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by (AL)consenting [c]to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ 21 Then He said to me, ‘Depart, (AM)for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’ ”
Footnotes
- Acts 21:39 insignificant
- Acts 22:9 NU omits and were afraid
- Acts 22:20 NU omits to his death
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
